New archbishop forgoes celebration lunch in aid of typhoon victims

Archbishop Socrates Villegas, head of Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese, cancelled the traditional lunch reception after his installation on Nov. 4 to show solidarity with the poor and typhoon victims in his province.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas (File photo)

“The money that will be saved from your act of sacrifice will be used to help the poor of Pangasinan,” Archbishop Villegas told parishioners and guests during his homily at the Cathedral of Saint John the Apostle in Dagupan City, Pangasinan province.

A traditional feast of lechon (roast pig) and other festive fare had been planned for 1,000 people following the service.

The northeastern region, of which the archdiocese is part, has been particularly hard-hit by the series of storms that have battered the country recently.

Archbishop Villegas, 49, is now the country´s youngest archbishop.

He was ordained a priest in 1985 and was the late Cardinal Jaime Sin´s private secretary from July that year. In that role he was at the center of the Church´s involvement in the 1986 “people power” uprising and accompanied the cardinal on his historic trip to China in 1987.

Archbishop Villegas was appointed auxiliary bishop of Manila in 2001 and Bishop of Balanga in 2004.

Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Villegas to lead the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese on Sept. 8 after the resignation of Archbishop Oscar Cruz, who turns 75 on Nov. 17.

Archbishop Cruz was noted for his work in fighting gambling and corruption. Archbishop Villegas told his flock he would “try to continue … the great work” of his predecessor who he described as “unique and irreplaceable.”

Archbishop Villegas also appealed to his priests to be not only “holy” but courageous and generous with their sacrifices. “Cowardly priests are forbidden! Priests who are thrifty in giving service are not allowed! Show them the face of Jesus, the joy of the world! We need to pray together and we must be saints together,” the prelate said in Tagalog.

Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines celebrated the Mass with Cardinals Gaudencio Rosales of Manila and Ricardo Vidal, and Archbishop Cruz.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese is made up of Dagupan City, northwest of Manila, two other cities and 15 towns of Pangasinan. It has 62 priests serving 1.07 million Catholics in 27 parishes.